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BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) – A man suspected of riding a horse under the influence of alcohol in Boulder on Monday has been released from custody.

Patrick Neal Schumacher was arrested by University of Colorado police at approximately 2:30 p.m. Monday. He was stopped near 15th and Broadway.

Patrick Neal Schumacher (credit: Boulder County Sheriff’s Office)

“This might be the first time in our department history that we pulled somebody over for riding under the influence on a horse. It’s certainly an unusual case,” Ryan Huff with CU Boulder police said.

The horse was disrupting traffic, according to police.

Police said Schumacher had a dog – a pug — in his backpack while he was riding and they found beer and a pistol in the saddlebags. Schumacher told police he lost his driver’s license so he decided to ride his horse from Larkspur, Colo., to Bryce, Utah to attend his brother’s wedding.

“He had been riding his horse for some time from that area to Boulder. His final destination is Bryce, Utah, where he intends to be at his brother’s wedding on Sept. 20. So he obviously has some distance to go.

Witnesses told police they saw Schumacher hit the horse hard. Schumacher said he was trying to hit a fly on the horse’s head.

The Boulder Police Department Animal Control Unit, Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks and Humane Society of Boulder Valley helped facilitate the safekeeping of the horse and dog while Schumacher was in custody.

Patrick Neal Schumacher after being released from custody (credit: CU Police Department)

Schumacher was released from custody on Tuesday and reunited with his animals to continue his ride to Utah. He faces charges of animal cruelty, prohibited use of weapons, riding a horse while under the influence of alcohol and reckless endangerment. He scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 31.